Spiral sound record strip



R. G. LEITNER SPIRAL SOUND RECORD STRIP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18, 1945 ll lllll'lllllll'll Pm an. M52

Patented Aug. 9, 1949 SPIRAL SOUND RECORD STRIP Richard G. Leitner, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Frank Richer, New York, N. Y.; Lu Garda Richer executrix of said Frank Richer, deceased Application January 18, 1943, Serial No. 472,792

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sound records.

One object of the invention comprises, inter alia, a sound record and coordinated means for the identification of groove sections on such .sound record.

The invention broadly comprises first means defining a substantially plane surface, at least one spiral sound groove on said surfaceQand second means identifying sections of said sound groove arranged in sequence coordinated with the sequence of said groove sections, and preferably in a ratio of their linear sequence to groove section sequence in excess of 1:1, for registry with stylus position indicator means.

In its preferred form, the sound record in accordance with the invention carries the groove section identifying means thereon. I prefer to use a record, in accordance with the invention, in connection with sound translating devices in which such record is held in a substantially stationary position with the stylus head moving to track in the sound groove. It is thus possible to read matter printed or written on the'record even while the same is being played. Such printed or written matter may embrace titles, lyrics and/or music, indices or any other desired legend. This legend or index material, preferably carried on the sound record itself and arranged in sequence coordinated with the sequence of the groove sections, identifies given points on or sections of the sound record. If such sound record is used in a device havin a suitable position or progress indicator appropriately coordinated with the sound translating stylus of such device, the position or positioning of the indicator, in registry with a predetermined identify- 'ing index or legend mark, fixes the stylus posi tion on the sound record at the point identified by such mark.

The advantages of my novel sound record are still further enhanced by the use of a so-called constant velocity groove, i. e., a groove in which any given frequency on any portion thereof is represented by the same number of undulations per unit length of groove. This combination of constant velocity sound groove and. the index or legend marks or matter referred to makes it possible to produce a talking book, i e., a book or the like recorded in sound reproduceable form. This desideratum is possible as the combination is productive of a cooperative relationship which permits a sound reproduceable record to contain uniformly the largest possible amount of recorded material per available area capable of 2 detailed topic or the like identification from appropriate legend marks or matter for accurate stylus registry or observation of stylus progress by means of suitably stylus coordinated indicator means. The legend material in conjunction with a book recording may comprise, if desired, the entirebook text or alternatively page or chapter identification matter.

Constant velocity sound grooves are obtained by using a recording device or mechanism having a constant linear stylus velocity drive, i. e., a drive causing relative motion between the stylus and the record at constant linear groove velocity of said stylus and at varying angular velocity, in compensation of length differentials between spirals of maximum and minimum diameter.

I find it of advantage to use a sound record having at least two parallel straight sides and preferably a substantially rectangular or a square sound record. The use of such record, inter alia, facilitates its positioning as a stationary record element and provides a marginal portion on which the desired index matter or a portion thereof, or, the hereinafter mentioned signal means may be carried. Furthermore, such record can be fed or uided more accurately into sound roove centered position on a sound translating device.

The invention of this record is primarily intended to be used with the apparatus shown in my copending applications 460,267, now Patent Number 2,344,851, 460,264 and 460,265, all filed September 30, 1942. The invention will be more fully understood and will appear more clearly from the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 represents a top view of a sound translating device, such as is shown in my copending application and with which this novel record is intended to be used. Fig. 2 is a front view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, giving a general idea of the nature of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View of a laminated .record element with sections broken away;

signal slots, a registering light source and. im-

pulse element. 7

Fig. 8 is a top view of a round form of record element in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. 9 illustrates a top view of a square form of record element in accordance with the invention.

Since the special features of the invention are particularly related to the apparatus, it will be helpful to giveabrief description-of the apparatus referring to Figs. 1 and 2.

A machine comprising primarily a casing I45,

having horizontal slits in the opposite sides therea of near the top through which a continuous record strip I41 may be fed. This strip extends beneath a transparent cover I45 and above avertically movable plate I52 having a central stud I54 to cooperate with openings I49 which are carried by the strip M1. This plate I52 is movable vertically into engagement with the movable sound tracks I48 positioned at various playing areas upon the strip after these latter have been moved into position in registry therewith, and this stud holds the playing area in registry with the rotating head 5, carrying a stylus carrier I. Movement of this stylus carrier 1 radially over th record face is controlled by a cam follower 9 whichengages a spiral groove one plate I3, so that as the stylus carrier rotates it is compelled to move in a spiral conforming to the spiral sound track. The stylus carrier is moved vertically into engagement with the sound track as the plate I52 is raised intoengagement with the sound strip.

A motor driven cone I is employed as a drive mechanism for rotating thestylus carrier and is so employed. as to engage a disc 42 carried by head 5 to give to the stylus carrier a constant linear speed along the sound. groove.

An indicator I44 is connected to the stylus to move in harmony with it and this indicator is movable over indicia I5I on the edge of the record strip so that the position of the indicator at any moment bears a predetermined relation to the position of the stylus in the sound track. This makes it possible to place an index of the contents of the sound track upon the record, such that the indicator will at all times point to the index when the stylus is in engagement with the corresponding part of the record.

At the close of playing of each individual sound track, the machine automatically lowers the plate I52 and raises follower 9 and the stylus, thus disengaging the record and permitting the record strip to be moved automatically to a new sound track. 7

As shown in the drawings (Figs. 8 and 9) the substantially flat surfaces Bill and Bill carry respectively the sound grooves 902 and 902' and legends 983 and 903'.

In its preferred form, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the record may be laminated, having a center strip of preferably non-transparent material, such as a paper strip H11, adapted to receive a suitable printed or written legend such as a table of contents, a visual index, or the like. Covering the center strip on each side and suitably secured or bonded thereto, is a thin layer of plastic material preferably relatively thin sheet material I08, carrying a sound reproduceable groove of either lateral or vertical cut type 12 I. This plastic material is preferably transparent and any suitable material adapted to receive a sound reproduceable groove of the type mentioned may be used, such as vinylite, cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose and others of like character and nature. Consequently, one surface may serve as a protection for the printed visual index or legend, while the other surface carries sound impressions. A sound record of the type mentioned is preferably used in connection with a device in which the stylus plays the record from underneath. If desired, sound impressions may be carried on both surfaces and legend material may be printed on both sides of the center, strip. Even in this case the visual legendmaterial may extend to portions covered by the sheet material carrying sound grooves since the sound grooves do not obscure plainly printed or written matter.

As supplement to the visual index or other legend material, and particularly for use by the all) blind I may extend one edge of the record strip (Fig. 5) and provide thereon braille index marks 122, It is possible to provide (Figs. 6 and 7) suitable signal slots or marks 4'23 coordinated with given legend or index marks I24 and thus with given indicator coordinated stylus positions to actuate anydesiredmecham'sm. As for instance, illustrated in Fig. 7, the light source I25 secured to and moving with indicator I26 incites, when in registry with signal slots-I23, the selenium or impulse element I21 thereby closing anelectric circuit (not shown) to effect, forexample, slide changing in a projection machine .in a manner well known in the art.

Within the scope of my invention and as further embodiment thereof, I provide a'strip-of record element material as illustrated in Fig. 4. Such strip carries a multiple number of individual sound grooves, each provided with its own legend material. 'Suchrecord strip,=particular.ly when of the relatively. thin laminated type, may be made sufficiently thin and flexible to be-wound on a roll.

The use of the sound record, in accordance .With my invention, and its operation, is illustrated by way of example in connection with a device of the type hereinafter illustrated, in which'rela'tive motion between the record and the sound translating stylus is achieved by rotation of the stylus, while the record is in a substantially stationary position.

' Frame I serves assupport for record material Ml, which in the embodiment shown (Fig. 1)

comprises a strip of successive individual sound records each having its individual spirally arranged sound groove I48, its individual centering aperture I49 and its center point indicator I50. Each individual portion may carry at the margin thereof, a suitable legend or index I5I with which the indicator point I44 may be brought into registry. Stylus positions relative given points on or sections of the record sound groove are coordinated with indicator positions in registry with identifying index marks. Stylus position or progress on the sound groove is thus ascertainable at any time from indicator position or progress on the index. Suitable arrangement for viewing the index should be made such as by way of Y a cover at least partly composed of transparent material.

Cover I46 cooperates with the frame and disc member I 52 (Figs. 3 and 11) to properly support the record material. Frame I45 and cover I46 are so spaced as 'to permit the recordmaterial I41 to pass therebetween without the necessity of lifting the cover. Signal mark. I53 (Fig. 1) is provided on the cover I46 to indicate centered position of record material when in registry with the center point mark I56.

Although a strip of successive units of record material has been illustrated in connection with the construction exemplified by way of preferred embodiment in the drawings, it is possible to use individual pieces of record material and irrespective of their particular geometrical configuration. If substantially circular record material is used, a suitable modification of the frame may be necessary, within the skill of the artisan, to firmly hold the record material in place. I prefer, however, to use the square form of record material as the same offers many advantages not realized with other forms of record material.

The index or other legend indicator I44 is preferably so set that its zero mark corresponds to the outermost position of the sound translating stylus element. By turning control knob I24, the index indicator I44 may beset to any desired position between the outermost and innermost positions of the stylus element, 1. e., to any given intermediate index point, predetermined for a particular sound groove relation, and the positioning of index I44 will automatically adjust the stylus of stylus element '1 to that position.

Though the device in the illustration herein used is exemplified as one operating from maximum to minimum radial position, it is of course understood that the same may be used by drive directional reversal, such as by belt crossing in connection with record material in which" the stylus element rotates in spirally outwardly extending engagement.

The foregoing description is for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the same is not to be limited except by the appended claims in which I have endeavored to claim broadly all inherent novelty.

I claim:

1. A record strip having spiral record areas at regularly spaced intervals, each record area being provided with a positioning opening, a spiral sound track and a set of indicating marks, each sound track and its corresponding set of indicating marks bearing the same relation to its positioning opening.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the indicating marks are transverse to the side of the strip.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 having indicating marks transverse to the side of the strip, and a legend on the face of thestrip opposite each sound track, showing a particular portion of the contents of the sound track of each area corresponding to the individual indicating mark corresponding to said area.

4. A device in. accordance with claim 1 having indicating marks transverse to the side of the strip and a legend on the face of the strip opposite each sound track, showing a particular portion of the contents of the sound track of each corresponding to the individual indicating marks corresponding to said area, said sound track being of the constant linear velocity type.

RICHARD G. LEITNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Jan. 20, 1930 Number Number 

